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WOTW: Sutherland Pinot Noir 2014

Article By: Michael Bampfield Duggan

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 3:29 PM

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Red Wine. Credit: Pixabay

Wine: Sutherland Pinot Noir 2014

Wine of Origin: Elgin

Winery Location: Stellenbosch

Winemaker: Rudi Schultz

Background: In 1988 Gyles and Barbara Webb of Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Stellenbosch, bottled their first wine, a Sauvignon Blanc. The wine received immediate recognition as one of the finest Sauvignon Blancs to have come from this region and the rest is history with their superb range of wines continuing to wow their consumer’s year on year.

However with Thelema flourishing Gyles felt it was time for a new challenge, and seeing the potential of the Elgin region as a quality wine producing area he came across an idyllic apple farm of about 100ha’s. So in 2002 the Webb family purchased the farm and gradually replaced the apple orchards with wine varietals and this was the birth of Sutherland Vineyards.

The Elgin Valley is located about 70 kms southeast of Cape Town in the Overberg region. It is uniquely set on a high plateau surrounded by mountains, and forms part of the Kogelberg Biosphere where numerous Protea species can be found. The cool maritime climate allows for slower ripening of the grapes than in other Cape Wineland areas and produces wines with vibrant concentrated fruit flavours and elegant minerality, especially on their Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Although Elgin is better known worldwide for its apples, it is receiving considerable attention, both at home and internationally, for their fine wines as well.

Even though the grapes for Sutherland wines are gown on the farm the production and bottling of the wines take place at the Thelema Winery on the Helshooghte Pass. The Sutherland range extends to five white wines, three red and one rose which emphasize the terroir of the region. At a recent tasting at Thelema Estate of the entire Sutherland range of wines the one that stood out was their Sutherland Pinot Noir 2014. Once the grapes had been harvested they were transported in a refrigerated container to the Thelema cellar. After fermentation the wine spent nine months in first, second and third fill barrels prior to bottling.

Result: The wine has a pale plum colour with upfront aromas of wild strawberries and perfumed rose petals. The palate offers a silky elegance along with its strawberry and raspberry flavours with a clean balance of acid and tannin throughout.

When to drink: Now till 2020

Drink with what: Serve slightly chilled this is a perfect summer wine especially if your preference is red.